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1 Kings 11

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Solomon's Apostasy and Idolatry 1–8

1
Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites; ​
2
of the nations concerning which Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. ​
3
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. ​
4
For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as was the heart of David his father. ​
5
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. ​
6
And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and went not fully after Jehovah, as did David his father.
7
Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the mount that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon. ​
8
And so did he for all his foreign wives, who burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

God Announces Judgment 9–13

9
And Jehovah was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice, ​
10
and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which Jehovah commanded.
11
Wherefore Jehovah said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. ​
12
Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. ​
13
Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to thy son, for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen. ​

External Adversaries Raised Up 14–25

14
And Jehovah raised up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom. ​
15
For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, and had smitten every male in Edom ​
16
(for Joab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom);
17
that Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him, to go into Egypt, Hadad being yet a little child.
18
And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran; and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.
19
And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. ​
20
And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s house among the sons of Pharaoh.
21
And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.
22
Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit only let me depart.
23
And God raised upanotheradversary unto him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah. ​
24
And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a troop, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.
25
And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. ​

Jeroboam Chosen to Rule Ten Tribes 26–40

26
And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, he also lifted up his hand against the king. ​
27
And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of the city of David his father. ​
28
And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he gave him charge over all the labor of the house of Joseph.
29
And it came to pass at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; now Ahijah had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field. ​
30
And Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces. ​
31
And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces; for thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee
32
(but he shall have one tribe, for my servant David’s sake and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel);
33
because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon; and they have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and mine ordinances, as did David his father.
34
Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant’s sake whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes;
35
but I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.
36
And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. ​
37
And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
38
And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that which is right in mine eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and will build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. ​
39
And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
40
Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam; but Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. ​

Death of Solomon 41–43

41
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? ​
42
And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. ​
43
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for 1 Kings 11

Verse 1

strange women — Nokriy, foreign, is the word of 'a strange woman' in Prov 6:24 and 23:27. The king who 'made affinity with Pharaoh' and took his daughter (3:1) now loved women of five peoples. Neh 13:26 looks back: 'among many nations was there no king like him… nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.'

Verse 2

Solomon clave unto these in love — 'Clave' is dabaq, the verb of 'cleave unto his wife' (Gen 2:24) and of 'to him shalt thou cleave', said of the LORD (Deut 10:20). The warning is summed from Ex 34:16 and Deut 7:3–4. 'Turn away' (natah) recurs in vv.3, 4 and 9.

Verse 3

seven hundred wives, princesses — 'Princesses' is sarah, a female noble, so the seven hundred were wives of rank. The law for the king said, 'Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away' (Deut 17:17); the verse ends with that result, 'his wives turned away his heart'.

Verse 4

not perfect with the LORD — Shalem, whole or complete, is the word of Solomon's own charge at the temple: 'Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God' (8:61). The measure is David, who walked 'in integrity of heart' (9:4). The turning came 'when Solomon was old' (ziqnah).

Verse 5

Ashtoreth… Milcom — Shiqquts, 'abomination', is a detestable thing, the word used of Milcom, Chemosh and Molech (vv.5, 7). Ashtoreth is the 'Ashtaroth' of Judg 2:13, which Samuel had called Israel to put away (1 Sam 7:3–4). Josiah later defiled these high places (2 Kgs 23:13).

Verse 7

an high place for Chemosh — Bamah, a high place, stood 'in the hill that is before Jerusalem'; 2 Kgs 23:13 puts it 'on the right hand of the mount of corruption'. Chemosh was the god of Moab ('people of Chemosh', Num 21:29); Molech, of Ammon, whose rite the law forbade: 'thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech' (Lev 18:21).

Verse 9

which had appeared unto him twice — First at Gibeon, 'in a dream by night' (3:5), then 'the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon' (9:2). The heart that 'was turned' (natah) is the heart the LORD had warned of in v.2. Anaph, to be angry, is the verb of the LORD's anger in Deut 9:8.

Verse 11

I will surely rend the kingdom — Qara, to tear, is the verb of 1 Sam 15:28, 'The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day', said to Saul after Samuel's mantle tore (15:27). Ahijah acts it out in vv.29–31. The charge was given at the temple's building: 'if thou wilt walk in my statutes' (6:12). 'Thy servant' is Jeroboam (v.26).

Verse 12

for David thy father's sake — The delay rests on the promise of 2 Sam 7:15, 'my mercy shall not depart away from him', and on Ps 89:30–34, where disobedient sons are visited 'with the rod' while 'My covenant will I not break'. The tearing falls 'out of the hand of thy son', Rehoboam, in 12:15–16.

Verse 13

one tribe — Judah is the tribe that stayed, 'the tribe of Judah only' that 'followed the house of David' (12:20), though 12:21 adds Benjamin to Rehoboam's muster. 'Chosen' (bachar) is the verb of Deut 12:11, 'a place which the LORD your God shall choose'. The reasons given are two: David's sake and Jerusalem's.

Verse 14

an adversary — Satan, 'adversary', the common noun, later the name of the accuser in Job 1:6. When he wrote to Hiram, Solomon said there was 'neither adversary nor evil occurrent' (5:4); now the LORD 'stirred up' (quwm, raised up) one. Hadad was 'of the king's seed in Edom', a survivor of David's war (vv.15–17).

Verse 15

after he had smitten every male in Edom — The war is told in 2 Sam 8:14 and 1 Chr 18:12–13, where Edom received garrisons and 'all the Edomites became David's servants'. Joab's six months (v.16) 'cut off every male'. The royal child Hadad escaped to Egypt (v.17).

Verse 19

Tahpenes the queen — Egypt took in Hadad, 'yet a little child' (v.17), and married him to 'the sister of Tahpenes the queen'. Egypt sheltered Hadad here and Jeroboam in v.40, while Solomon himself had 'made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt' (3:1).

Verse 23

another adversary — Rezon 'fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah', whom David had smitten (2 Sam 8:3). The same verb, quwm, raises up the adversary in v.14, where the LORD does it, and here, where it is 'God'. Rezon 'reigned in Damascus' (v.24) and 'over Syria' (v.25).

Verse 25

he abhorred Israel — Quts, to be disgusted or loathe. The two adversaries pressed from opposite sides: Hadad from Edom in the south (v.14), Rezon from Damascus in the north (v.24), 'all the days of Solomon', so that the 'rest on every side' of 5:4 did not hold.

Verse 26

an Ephrathite of Zereda — Here 'Ephrathite' means of Ephraim, as Elkanah 'of mount Ephraim' is called one (1 Sam 1:1). 'Lifted up his hand against the king' is the phrase used of Sheba against David (2 Sam 20:21). His mother is named, 'Zeruah, a widow woman'. He is 'Solomon's servant', the one to whom the kingdom is promised (v.11).

Verse 27

Solomon built Millo — These are the works of 9:15, raised by a levy 'to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo'. Jeroboam was set over 'the charge of the house of Joseph' (v.28); 'charge' is sebel, a burden or load, and the people's complaint to Rehoboam is of this labour: 'Thy father made our yoke grievous' (12:4).

Verse 29

Ahijah the Shilonite — He comes from Shiloh, where the tabernacle was first set up (Josh 18:1). He is 'the prophet', and his prophecy is one of the sources for Solomon's reign: 'the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite' (2 Chr 9:29). He meets Jeroboam 'alone in the field', with a 'new garment' (chadash) for the sign.

Verse 30

rent it in twelve pieces — Qara, to tear, as in 1 Sam 15:27–28, where Samuel's torn mantle was the sign that the LORD 'hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee'. Here a sign-act again makes the word visible before it is spoken. Twelve pieces answer the twelve tribes; ten go to Jeroboam (v.31).

Verse 36

a light alway before me — Nir, a lamp. The promise is kept in 15:4, 'for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem', and 2 Kgs 8:19, 'to give him alway a light'. Ps 132:17 states it of the line: 'I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed'.

Verse 38

build thee a sure house — The offer is conditional, in the terms Solomon had been given: 'if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked' (9:4), here 'as David my servant did'. The same 'sure house' was promised to the faithful priest (1 Sam 2:35). Jeroboam is later measured by it: 'thou hast not been as my servant David' (14:8).

Verse 40

Shishak king of Egypt — Egypt gives refuge to a man the king of Israel wants dead, as it did Hadad (v.18). Jeroboam stays 'until the death of Solomon'. Shishak is named again when he 'came up against Jerusalem' in Rehoboam's fifth year (2 Chr 12:2).

Verse 41

the book of the acts of Solomon — This is a written record of the reign, cited as the place for 'the rest of the acts'. 2 Chr 9:29 names other writings that carry it: 'the book of Nathan the prophet, and… the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and… the visions of Iddo the seer'. 'Wisdom' is chokmah, the 'wisdom of God' the people saw in him (3:28).

Verse 42

forty years — This is also the length of David's reign (2:11), whose seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem make forty. Solomon's is counted 'in Jerusalem over all Israel', the unity that vv.11–13 say will end with his son.

Verse 43

Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead — The promise made for David's sake (vv.12–13, 36) holds: the line runs through Rehoboam and into Christ's genealogy, 'Solomon begat Roboam' (Matt 1:7). 'Slept with his fathers' is the phrase used of David (2:10), who was buried, as Solomon is, 'in the city of David'.